When is a smartphone upgrade not an upgrade? When it’s the Samsung Galaxy Core Plus, which has quietly launched in Taiwan. Although it does use Android 4.2 where the original Galaxy Core ran 4.1, it’s carrying just 768MB of RAM and 4GB of expandable storage — both steps down from the 1GB of RAM and 8GB of space inside its months-old predecessor. Android Beat speculates that Samsung is maximizing its production efficiency with the downgrade; it may be using the same 768MB RAM chips that it also makes for high-end devices like the Galaxy Note 3. Whether or not that’s true, it’s clear that not much else has changed. The Plus still includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 screen, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA shooter. While the new handset is relatively cheap at NT$ 7,990 ($270 US) off-contract, we’d rather hunt around for a used example of its older, more advanced sibling. by engadget